Sustainable travel - a representative survey by HolidayCheck

What about sustainability when travelling? A study by HolidayCheck shows that Germans are interested in sustainable travel and are willing to spend a little more on it, but still know far too little about the possibilities of sustainable travel.

The most important facts in brief

• Germans prefer domestic travel, with cars being the favorite mode of transportation
• Travel planning is changing, with safety and intact nature prioritized over tourist attractions
• Sustainable travel: German travelers lack information and require more education
• Change in travel behavior: Germans are willing to give up cruises and flights, but face obstacles with CO₂ compensation and sustainable options
• Environmentally conscious travel: Germans demand shared responsibility from providers, policymakers, and travelers

Germans prefer domestic travel - cars remain the favorite mode of transportation

The most popular travel destination for Germans is their own country. 65 percent of respondents could imagine traveling within Germany in the next twelve months. This aligns with the most frequently mentioned mode of transportation: the car. This is due to travel with a lot of luggage and mobility on-site. The most popular destinations after Germany are Italy (27 percent), Scandinavia (24 percent), Austria and Switzerland (21 percent). Then follow the Balearic Islands (19 percent), the Spanish mainland (18 percent), and Greece (18 percent).

The car is the most common mode of transportation (66 percent), followed by the airplane, which 50 percent of respondents use. 32 percent go on vacation by train, 13 percent travel by bus, 7 percent by ship, and only 5 percent by motorhome.

Travel planning is changing: safety and intact nature are prioritized over tourist attractions

When asked about the importance of individual aspects in travel planning, it is evident that safety from natural disasters (80 percent), safety from extreme weather events (79 percent), and intact nature at the travel destination (85 percent) are more critical for travel planning than tourist attractions (79 percent) or sports and leisure activities on-site (48 percent). More than half of travelers would avoid certain travel destinations that have experienced extreme weather events in recent years, as well as certain travel months due to excessive heat and fire hazards. Compared to their own travel behavior in recent years, almost half of the respondents now place more value on sustainability when choosing a travel destination and mode of transportation. Only 13 percent are not interested in sustainable travel.

Sustainable travel: German travelers lack information and require more education

The results of the survey on sustainable travel options show that there is still a significant need for information and education among the population. 24 percent of respondents state that they are not aware of any sustainable travel options. Only just under 20 percent of respondents know that accommodations, transportation, and package tour providers offer sustainable certifications. 61 percent of respondents are completely unaware of the various certification and quality seals in the travel industry. There is a clear need for education on the part of the travel industry. Only just under a quarter of respondents are aware of the option to compensate for CO₂ emissions from accommodations and transportation.

More information on CO₂ compensation while traveling can be found here

Of the options for making travel more sustainable, two-thirds would consider giving up cruises in the future. More than half would give up flying or replace it with other forms of transportation. Just as many can imagine avoiding longer car trips.

Further down the list are trips where accommodations, package tour providers, or transportation have sustainability certifications or labels. CO₂ compensation payments for transportation and accommodations are at the bottom of the list. Travelers decide against CO₂ compensation mainly for the following reasons: they do not know what the CO₂ compensation surcharge is used for, and they do not feel that they can make a difference by booking a sustainably labeled offer. Or they simply did not want to deal with the issue of climate protection while traveling. Almost two-thirds of respondents find it difficult to find out how to make their travels more environmentally friendly. For three-quarters of respondents, traveling simply means a reward for what they have achieved during the year, and they do not necessarily want to deal with environmental and climate protection during this time.

Environmentally Conscious Travel: Germans Call for Shared Responsibility from Providers, Politicians, and Travellers

Over half of the respondents believe that sustainable travel is a shared responsibility involving travel providers, politicians, and travellers, rather than falling solely on travellers. This group seeks more guidance on organizing eco-friendly holidays and prefers to book with companies offering sustainable travel options. Nearly half of those surveyed are willing to pay extra for such holidays, with a notable readiness among younger individuals. In fact, half of the 16 to 29-year-olds are open to spending up to 20 percent or more of their total holiday cost on sustainability. In conclusion, the issue is not a lack of willingness but rather insufficient information on how to plan sustainable holidays. Travellers are eager to make a positive impact, but traveling in an environmentally conscious manner needs to be more accessible.